Easy-On-And-Off Apparel

ABSTRACT

Easy-on-and-off apparel being a continuous sheet comprises a first sheet and a second sheet. The first sheet comprises a first edge and a first engaging portion; the first edge located at a side of the first sheet; the first engaging portion nearby the first edge. The second sheet connected to the first sheet comprises a second edge, a stitch and a tab. The second edge located at a side of the second sheet; the stitch nearby and parallel to the second edge; the tab between the stitch and the second edge, the tab having a second engaging portion; the tab is along the stitch, the first engaging portion is separately connected to the second engaging portion, the first edge is corresponding to the stitch. With the first edge and the second edge and by connecting the first connected portion to the second connected portion, easy dressing of the wearer in the apparel while the wearer is lying is achieved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to easy-on-and-off apparel, especially to the apparel made of one piece of sheet and having edges connectable at two sides of the sheet to form the apparel.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Recently, aging and low birthrate worldwide has become more and more severe, so populations in need of care are growing. When people are aging, organs and limb joints are also aging. In mild cases, the aged people still can walk freely, but severe cases may lead to disability, or even loss of mobility, and the aged people have to lie in bed on a long-term basis. As a result, the aged people need the assistance with daily routines by the caregiver.

As for the caregiver, one of the toughest tasks is to help the patient change his/her apparel. The bedridden patient is close to the state of immobility. Therefore, when the patient is changing the apparel with the aid of the caregiver, the caregiver must barely move the patient's body to remove the dirty apparel from the patient. The patient is dressed up in the clean apparel by the caregiver, which is also a challenging task.

Therefore, apparel that can be easily worn on the patient by the caregiver is needed, or more ideally, even the patient can easily put on and take off the apparel by himself/herself. The disadvantages in prior arts should be resolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the above description, the objective of the present invention is to provide easy-on-and-off apparel to achieve dressing the wearer in the apparel while the wearer is lying.

To achieve the above purpose of the present invention, the objective of the invention is to provide easy-on-and-off apparel being a continuous sheet, comprising a first sheet and a second sheet. The first sheet comprises a first edge and a first engaging portion; the first edge is located at a side of the first sheet; the first engaging portion is nearby the first edge. The second sheet is connected to the first sheet and comprises a second edge, a stitch and a tab. The second edge is located at a side of the second sheet; the stitch is nearby and parallel to the second edge; the tab is between the stitch and the second edge, the tab having a second engaging portion; wherein the tab is folded along the stitch, the first engaging portion of the first sheet is separately connected to the second engaging portion, and the first edge of the first sheet is corresponding to the stitch.

Preferably, the first engaging portion of the first sheet is connected to the second engaging portion of the second sheet, and the first sheet and the second sheet are composed to an upper garment.

Preferably, the first sheet further comprises a first cloth and a second cloth; the first cloth is overlapped to the second cloth to form a V shape at the front of the upper garment.

Preferably, the first engaging portion of the first sheet is connected to the second engaging portion of the second sheet, and the first sheet and the second sheet are composed to a pair of pants; wherein the first sheet further comprises a first inner edge and a first connected portion. The first inner edge is partially corresponding to the first edge of the first sheet and between two legs of the pants; the first connected portion is nearby and parallel to the first inner edge. The second sheet further comprises a second inner edge, an inner stitch, and an inner tab. The second inner edge is partially corresponding to the second edge and between the legs of the pants; the inner stitch is nearby and parallel to the second inner edge; the inner tab is between the inner stitch and the second inner edge, the inner tab has a second connected portion, and the second connected portion is separately connected to the first connected portion.

More preferably, the pants comprise a waistband, and the waistband comprises an elastic band and a drawstring; wherein the elastic band is elastically connected to the waistband, and the drawstring is inserted through the waistband.

Preferably, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.

More preferably, the first connected portion and the second connected portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.

The advantages of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention are that the apparel can be worn not only for the general adults and children, but also for the disabled, the bedridden patients, or the elder needing care. Utilizing the open ends of the first edge and the second edge and connecting the first connected portion to the second connected portion can achieve easy dressing of the wearer in the apparel while the wearer is lying. Beside, the easy-on-and-off apparel does not have the distinction of front, back, right or left, so the user will not be concerned about the wrong wearing direction.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 2A illustrates a first operational view of the first preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates a second operational view of the first preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 2C illustrates a third operational view of the first preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is an inside-out perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 8A illustrates a first operational view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 8B illustrates a second operational view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 8C illustrates a third operational view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a front perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is an inside-out perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a seventh preferred embodiment of the easy-on-and-off apparel of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention provides easy-on-and-off apparel being a continuous sheet comprising a first sheet 10 and a second sheet 20.

The first sheet 10 comprises a first edge 11 and a first engaging portion 12; wherein the first edge 11 is located at a side of the first sheet 10; the first engaging portion 12 is nearby the first edge 11.The second sheet 20 connected to the first sheet 10 comprises a second edge 21, a stitch 22, and a tab 23. The second edge 21 is located at a side of the second sheet 20; the stitch 22 is nearby and parallel to the second edge 21; the tab 23 is between the stitch 22 and the second edge 21, and the tab 23 has a second engaging portion 231; wherein the tab 23 is folded along the stitch 22, the first engaging portion 12 is separately connected to the second engaging portion 231, and the first edge 11 is corresponding to the stitch 22.When the first engaging portion 12 is connected to the second engaging portion 231, the first sheet 10 and the second sheet 20 are composed to an upper garment. In a preferred embodiment, the first engaging portion 12 and the second engaging portion 231 include, but are not limited to, snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®. In a preferred embodiment, the first engaging portion 12 is multiple sockets, and the second engaging portion 231 is multiple studs correspondingly buckled to the multiple sockets.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is in use, a side of the upper garment is open due to the first edge 11 of the first sheet 10 and the second edge 21 of the second sheet 20. For putting on the upper garment, one arm of the user can pass from the first edge 11 and the second edge 21 through the other side of the upper garment opposite to the first edge 11 and the second edge 21 so as to prop up from the other side of the upper garment (as shown in FIG. 2A). Then, the tab 23 is folded up along the stitch 22 toward the first engaging portion 12 so as to buckle the second edge 21 and the second engaging portion 231, and the first edge 11 is corresponding to the stitch 22 for propping up from the side of the upper garment located at the first edge 11 and the second edge 21 to complete putting on the upper garment (as shown in FIG. 2B). When the user is putting on the upper garment, the left arm can be inserted into the upper garment first (as shown in FIG. 2B), and then the first engaging portion 12 is around the right arm and correspondingly buckled on the second engaging portion 231. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2C, the right arm of the user also can be inserted into the upper garment first, and then the first engaging portion 12 is around the left arm and correspondingly buckled on the second engaging portion 231 (as shown in FIG. 2C, the second engaging portion 231 and the first engaging portion 12 are not shown in the figure because they are covered by the second sheet 20). Therefore, the easy-on-and-off apparel can be worn depending on the user's habit and need. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, regardless that the upper garment is worn in the normal direction (as shown in FIG. 3A) or inside-out (as shown in FIG. 3B), the first engaging portion 12 can be correspondingly buckled to the second engaging portion 231 so that the upper garment will not have the problems of wrong wearing direction or side.

According to the above mentioned, the upper garment of the first preferred embodiment of the present is suitable for any users such as the elder, children, or even the disabled patients, especially for the patients whose arms are unable to move or for the bedridden patients, so the patient can easily change the apparel.

As shown in FIG. 4, the difference between the second preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment is that the first engaging portion 12A and the second engaging portion 231A are ropes. The first engaging portion 12A is tied with the second engaging portion 231A so that the upper garment can cover the user's arm and the upper body, thereby accomplishing dressing in the upper garment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the difference between the third preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment is that the first engaging portion 12B of the first sheet 10B and the second engaging portion 231B of the tab 23B of the second sheet 20B are VELCRO®. The first edge 11B can be connected to the second edge 21 B by the first engaging portion 12B connected to the second engaging portion 231B, so that the user's arm and the upper body are covered by the first sheet 10B and the second sheet 20B, thereby accomplishing dressing in the upper garment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the difference between the fourth preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment is that the first sheet 10C further comprises a first cloth 13C and a second cloth 14C; the first cloth 13C is overlapped to the second cloth 14C to form a V shape at the front of the upper garment which is similar to a kimono. The upper garment is not only easy to wear, but also provides the front neckline shape similar to the kimono and increase the aesthetic appeal of wearing the upper garment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the difference between the fifth preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment is that the first engaging portion 12D is connected to the second engaging portion 231D, and the first sheet 10D and the second sheet 20D are composed to a pair of pants; wherein the first sheet 10D further comprises a first inner edge 15D and a first connected portion 16D. The first inner edge 15D is partially corresponding to the first edge 11D and between two legs of the pants. The first connected portion 16D is nearby and parallel to the first inner edge 15D. The second sheet 20D further comprises a second inner edge 24D, an inner stitch 25D, and an inner tab 26D. The second inner edge 24D is partially corresponding to the second edge 21D and between the legs of the pants. The inner stitch 25D is nearby and parallel to the second inner edge 24D. The inner tab 26D is between the inner stitch 25D and the second inner edge 24D, the inner tab 26D has a second connected portion 261D, and the second connected portion 261D is separately connected to the first connected portion 16D. The easy-on-and-off apparel further comprises a waistband 30D located at the same site on the first sheet 10D and the second sheet 20D, and nearby the first edge 11D and the second edge 21D. The waistband 30D comprises an elastic band 31D and a drawstring 32D; wherein the elastic band 31D is elastically connected to the waistband 30D, and the drawstring 32D is inserted through the waistband 30D. In a preferred embodiment, the first connected portion 16D and the second connected portion 261D include, but are not limited to, snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®. In a preferred embodiment, the first connected portion 16D is multiple sockets, and the second connected portion 261D is multiple studs correspondingly buckled to the multiple sockets.

As shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, when the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is in use, the first sheet 10D and the second sheet 20D composed to a pair of pants are suitable for any users such as the elder, children, or even the disabled patients, especially for the patients whose arms are unable to move or the bedridden patients. Therefore, the fifth preferred embodiment provides a pair of easy on-and-off pants. For instance, when the patient is wearing the pants in bed, the second sheet 20D is placed behind the patient's bottom and the legs, and then the waist and the legs are covered by the first sheet 10D moving forward. After the first edge 11D and the first inner edge 15D are placed corresponding to the stitch 22D and the inner stitch 25D, the first engaging portion 12D is connected to the second engaging portion 231D, and the first connected portion 16D is connected to the second connected portion 261D to complete putting on the pants. The waistband 30D can be tied by the drawstring 32D for fixing the waistband 30D on the waist, and the elasticity of the waistband 30D can be adjusted by the elastic band 31D so that the patient will not feel uncomfortable. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8C, in a preferred embodiment, when the patient is to put on the pants, the first sheet 10D is placed behind the patient's waist, bottom, and legs, and then the waist and the legs are covered by the second sheet 20D moving forward. The first edge 11D and the first inner edge 15D are separately placed corresponding to the stitch 22D and the inner stitch 25D, the first engaging portion 12D is connected to the second engaging portion 231D, and the first connected portion 16D is correspondingly connected to the second connected portion 261D so that the pants can be worn (as shown in FIG. 8C, the first engaging portion 12D, the second engaging portion 231D, the first connected portion 16D and the second connected portion 261D are not shown in the figure because they are covered by the second sheet 20D). The patient can put on the pants by following the abovementioned ways without determining the front or the back, and without concern about the wrong wearing side. As shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, regardless that the pants are worn in the normal direction (as shown in FIG. 9A) or inside-out (as shown in FIG. 9B), the first engaging portion 12D with the second engaging portion 231D, and the first connected portion 16D with the second connected portion 261D can be correspondingly buckled to each other, so that the pants will not have the problems of wrong wearing direction or side.

As shown in FIG. 10, the difference between the sixth preferred embodiment and the fifth preferred embodiment is that the first engaging portion 12E, the second engaging portion 231E, the first connected portion 16E and the second connected portion 261E are ropes. The first engaging portion 12E with the second engaging portion 231E, and the first connected portion 16E with the second connected portion 261E can be correspondingly tied to each other so that the patient can easily put on the pants.

As shown in FIG. 11, the difference between the seventh preferred embodiment and the sixth preferred embodiment is that the first engaging portion 12F, the second engaging portion 231F, the first connected portion 16F and the second connected portion 261F are VELCRO®. The first engaging portion 12F with the second engaging portion 231F, and the first connected portion 16F with the second connected portion 261F can be correspondingly connected to each other, so that the patient's waist, bottom, and the legs are covered by the first sheet 10F and the second sheet 20F and the patient can easily put on the pants.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Easy-on-and-off apparel being a continuous sheet, comprising: a first sheet comprising: a first edge located at a side of the first sheet; and a first engaging portion nearby the first edge; and a second sheet connected to the first sheet and comprising: a second edge located at a side of the second sheet; a stitch nearby and parallel to the second edge; and a tab between the stitch and the second edge, the tab having a second engaging portion; wherein the tab is folded along the stitch, the first engaging portion of the first sheet is separately connected to the second engaging portion, and the first edge of the first sheet is corresponding to the stitch.
 2. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion of the first sheet is connected to the second engaging portion of the second sheet, and the first sheet and the second sheet are composed to an upper garment.
 3. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first sheet further comprises a first cloth and a second cloth; the first cloth is overlapped to the second cloth to form a V shape at the front of the upper garment.
 4. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion of the first sheet is connected to the second engaging portion of the second sheet, and the first sheet and the second sheet are composed to a pair of pants; wherein the first sheet further comprises: a first inner edge partially corresponding to the first edge of the first sheet and between two legs of the pants; and a first connected portion nearby and parallel to the first inner edge; wherein the second sheet further comprises: a second inner edge partially corresponding to the second edge and between the legs of the pants; an inner stitch nearby and parallel to the second inner edge; and an inner tab between the inner stitch and the second inner edge, the inner tab having a second connected portion, and the second connected portion separately connected to the first connected portion.
 5. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pants comprise a waistband, and the waistband comprises an elastic band and a drawstring; wherein the elastic band is elastically connected to the waistband, and the drawstring is inserted through the waistband.
 6. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.
 7. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.
 8. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.
 9. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.
 10. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.
 11. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first connected portion and the second connected portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®.
 12. The easy-on-and-off apparel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first connected portion and the second connected portion are snap buttons, ropes, zippers, or VELCRO®. 